, 1887-03-04
An Attack on Speaker Carlisle.

WASHINGTON, March g. Senator
Hoar, after referring to the action of the
speaker Of The house mot named) in re-
fusing to recognize a certain member, be-
cause he (thc speaker did not approve of
the measure the member wished to move.
said: Henry Clay was supposed to have
a pretty strong will. He would no moro
have dared to assert such an authority
when he was speaker of the house, than
he would have ventured to cross Niagara
river twenty rods above the falls.
Blaine, under whom many of us served
In another place, is generally supposed to
have a pretty strong will and a pretty
strong desire to have accomplished in the
administration ofthe country things which
he thinks ought to be done. | served in
the house of representatives with that ac-
complished gentleman for eight years, for
six of which he was speaker, and the
humblest Democrat when We had a ma
lority OF three -fourths or four-6fths in
that body was permitted to make his
motion to suspend the rules every Mon
day, and every day within the last six
days of adjournment. Who ever heard
Of Blaine, if a member desired to be rec
ognized, to move the adoption of a meas
ure that would pass unanimously, or near
" unanimously, if proposed, informing
that member that the presiding officer had
determined that it was not expedient to
have any measur OF that kind proposed
during that session of congress?
Mr.. President, this is a question which
goes clear down to the fundamental rocks
on which our constitutional structure is
erected. | would rather have the en-
peror of Russia or king of Bombay to
rule over me, than to have, under pre-
tense Of a constitutional form, the right
denied to any representative to utter the
will of the American people when consti-
tutionally expressed by the voice of a
majority in each branch. We have not
thought it desirable, in, the state of public
feeling, in the condition of public bust
ness, in the prevailing sentiment of the
American people, to insist upon an extra
session of congress; but |, for one, wish
to give notice that, in my Judgment, this
is the last time that that %usurpation will
be submitted to.
Mr.. Beck was called out Of the
chamber for a while, and was only in time
tn hear what caams IN mo n moot ranoart
able TRADE against the speaker of the
house of representatives. That gentle
man needs no defense at my hands, and |
had supposed that in the senate of the
United States, under the rules and pro-
p%rieties of the occasion, comment upon
the action of the speaker would not be in
dulged in.
| have only this to say: that there is no
man in Massachusetts, or outside of Mas
sachusetts, who will attack either the in
tegrity, honesty or ability of the speaker
of the present house, with impunity, in
his presence. There are $50 partisans of
the senator from Massachusetts on the
floor of the other house, all of whom have
the right to make whatever attack they
please, and if they do they will receive a
response BETTING the attack.
Mr.. Hoar-I ask the senator from Ken
lucky whether he denies a single assertion
of fact that have made; whether he does
not agree with me in my opinion of this
matter; and whether he does not think
that 1t is an invasion of the constitutional
power of the senate and house ?
Mr.. Beck have no right to know on
this floor whether the statements made
by the senator from Massachusetts are
true, and if they are invasions of rights
they are invasions of the rights of the
house of representatives, and there are
representatives there able to take care of
themselves. The speaker of the house is
also able to take care of himself against
anyone and all who see fit to attack him.
Mr.. Blaine's name has been brought up
and contrasted with the present speaker.
There never has been 10 that chair a man
Of more u%ndoubted integrity, a man of
greater fairness or of more ability than
the present speaker of that house. And
| think it is not fair.
Mr.. Harris-NO becoming.
Mr.. Beck-Tt is not fair, | say, to at
tack him behind his back when no man
dares to attack him before his face. |
ask the senator FROM Massachusetts, to 60
over to the house and get some of the able
Republicans on that floor to make this
charge, and | will guarantee that the
speaker will come down from his chair and
refute all ISLANDERS which they dare to heap
upon him. | have no idea that he has
violated any rule of that body, or any rule
of courtesy, or any rule OF honor, or that
he has done any act, either revolutionary
or wrong, since he has presided over that
great body; . and no man will dare to tell
him that he has. Let the senator from
Massachusetts 20 over there and persuade
the bitterest partisan on hat floor TO rise
in his place and make the charges there.
which the senator has made here, and he
will lao unStCnro1 IA tho catisIoatinn nI tho